Accordingly he went to his own room--which was at the other end of the flat--and put on his dress clothes.

Before going to the dining-room, however, he said good-night to Effie--who was in bed, but not asleep--and asked her what time she had reached home.
"At twenty minutes past five, daddy," Effie said promptly.
"Twenty minutes past five! Why, you don't mean to say that you were an hour coming that little way! Did you get blocked in the fog ?" "No, daddy, but----" "But what, dear ?" "Anne did tell me not to say!" "But I tell you to say, dear--never mind Anne!" "Anne stopped and talked to the ticket-man for a long, long time." "Oh, did she ?" he said.
At that moment the parlourmaid came to say that Lady Honoria and the "gentleman" were waiting for dinner.

Geoffrey asked her casually what time Miss Effie had reached home.
"About half-past five, sir.

Anne said the cab was blocked in the fog." "Very well.

Tell her ladyship that I shall be down in a minute." "Daddy," said the child, "I haven't said my prayers.